Electric-circuit breaker.



No. 661,77l. Patented Nov. I3, |900.

' `B. P. nucKER.

ELECTRlC-[HRCUIT BREAKER.

(Appuweion med June 25. 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l #Ji/(m) Patented '@Nov. I3, |900.

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

N nu..

B. P. RUCKEH.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT BREAKER.

(Appliration filed June 25, 1900.]

(No Model.)

THE Nonms Pains co, Fumo-uwe., wAsHxNm'oN. n.12.

UNiinD Sorarns' Fastener FFICE.

BENJAMIN PARKS RUCKER, OF PHILADELPIHA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC-CiRCUlT BREAKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 661,771, dated November -1 3, 1900.

Application filed June 25, 1900. Serial No. 21,425. thio model.;

To @ZZ whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN PARKS RUCKER, a citizen of the United States, resid ing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Circuit Breakers, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and acter fully set forth, and particularly pointed' out in the claims.

Figure l represents a front elevation of a circuitbreaker constructed in 'accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section taken on line n 5t', Fig. l, the front portion of the box being cut off. Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary detail View of a portion of the end of the switch-carrying arm and adjacent parts.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a box within which the circuit-breaker is situated, the same being closed by a door B. The forward portion of the box A in Fig. 2 is cut olf; but it is understood that it is deep enough to allow the switch-carrying arms to swing on their pivot when the door is closed. Freely mounted upon a suitable shaft C within the box is a switch-carrying arm D, which carries the switch-contact blade E, that is adapted to complete a circuit between the contacts F and G. Said switch-carrying arm is held in the position shown in full lines in Figs. l and 3 by means of a catch H, mounted upon an arm J within the box A and which is situated to engage a projection K upon the switch-carrying arm. The said catch holds the switch-carrying arm in the position illustrated against the action of a spring throwing or tension device L, which consists of a spring-actuated pin engaging the finger M of the switch-carrying arm. The catch H is pivotally mounted and is situated in the path of the pin N, that extends through the core P of the magnet and which is actuated by the pi voted armature Q, situated below the magnet and normally resting upon a stop R to support the pin N. The circuit-wire S extends through an opening in the box and is connected with the binding-post of the contact F. From the binding-post of the contact G a conductor 'll leads to the coil of the magnet P, and the other end of this coil is connected with the binding-post of the contact U by a conductor V. Adjacent the contact U is another contact lV, from which extends the circuit-wire X. The contacts U and W are connected by a switch-contact blade Y of an auxiliary switch-carrying arm Z, that is conveniently mounted upon and rotatable with said shaft C, upon which switch-carrying arm D rotates freely. The shaft C "s provided exterior to the box with the handle A. rlhe said switch-carrying arm is provided with a pin or abutment B', situated to engage the switch-carrying arm D, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The operation is as follows: In Figs. l and 2 the parts are shown in full lines in the position they occupy when the circuit is in working condition. lt is understood, however, that as soon as an abnormal current passes through the magnet P the arm Q is raised to cause the pin N to tilt to catch H and release the switch-carrying arm D. The tension device L thereupon throws the arm D upon its axis, withdrawing the switch-contact blade from the contacts F and G and breaking the circuit. The switch-carrying arm D falls downwardly and rests against the abutment or pin BC The object of the au xiliary switch-carrying arm is to disrupt the circuit when the switch-carrying arm D is returned to its upper position to connect the contacts F and G. lt is seen, therefore, that to return the switch-carrying arm D to its upper position the shaft Gis turned by the handle,and the abutmentB beingin contact with the arm D will raise the same to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and connect the contacts F and G. ln doing this, however,

and before the contacts F and Gare connected the connection between the contacts U and lV is broken bythe withdrawal of the switchcontact blade Y of said auxiliary switch-carrying arm Z. When the arm D is secured by the catch H, the handle A is returned to its IOO normal position, the contacts U and XV being` again connected, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

In Fig. 3 a portion of the magnet, the catch H, and the outer end of the switch carrying' arm are shown to illustrate the manner in which the projection K oit the switch-carrying,r arm rides over the end of the catch when it is returned to its working position.

It will be noticed that all parts of the switch are inclosed Within the box A and that it cannot be interfered with unless the lid is open. Thus the automatic action of the switch under the desired condition is insured, tor instance, against fastening or tying,` any ol` the parts and. otherwise. It is not necessary, however, to remove the lid of the box to reset the switch-arms, as this is accomplished by the lever A', that projects from the box.

Having,` thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by JLetters Patent, is-

l. ln a circuit-breaker, a switch adapted to be automatically operated by'an abnormal current to break the circuit at one point, and a switch adapted to break the circuit at another point and by means of which said automatieallyoperated switch is operated to make the circuit.

2. ln a circuit breaker, a plurality of switches adapted to break the circuit at different points, one of said switches being' adapted to be automatically operated by an abnormal current to break the circuit, and adapted to be operated by said other switch to make the circuit, said other switch being` adapted to break the circuit when actuated to operate the automatically-operated switch.

3. A circuit-breaker having,` a switch adapted to be automatically operated by an abnormal current to break the circuit at one point, and a manually-operated switch adapted to break the circuit at another point and to operate said automatically operated switch to make the circuit.

4L'. A circuit-breaker, having` a plurality of contact-carrying` arms adapted to break the circuit at different points, one of said contact-carrying` arms being,` automatically operated by an abnormal current to break the circuit, the other contact-carrying` arm being-- 1situated in the path of said auton'iaticallyoperated contact-carrying arm, and means for moving` said other contact-carrying armwhereby the automatically-operated contact-f carrying arm can be moved by said other contact-carrying arm to make the circuit at one point and said other contact-carrying arm then returned to its normal position to make the circuit at the other point.

5. In a circuit-breaker, an automaticallyoperated contact-carryin` arm, an auxiliary contact-carrying arm situated in the path of the same, and means for moving said auxiliary contact-carrying arm to move said contact-carrying` arm to its operative position.

6. In a circuit-breaker, a spring-actuated contact-carrying` arm, a catch for holding the same in operative position,an armature adapted to operate said catch and itself adapted to be operated by an electromagnet iu the circuit controlled bythe circuit-breaker, an auxiliary contact-carrying arm situated in the path of said coniact-carrying,` arm, and means for moving said auxiliary contact-carrying` arm to move said contact-carrying. arm to its operative position.

'7. In a circuit-breaker, an automaticallyoperated contact-carrying arm freely mounted upon a shaft, an auxiliary contact-carryinf.,r arm rotatable with said shaft and situated in the path of said contact-carryin5 1,` arm, and means for moving said shaft to cause the auxiliary contact-carrying,` arm to move the contact-carrying arm to its operative position.

S. In a circuit-ln'eaker, a switch adapted to be automatically operated by an abnormal current to break the circuit at one point, a switch adapted to break the circuit at another point and by means of which said automatically-operated switch is operated to make the circuit, a casing inclosing,` said switches, and a lever for operating said switch that operates the automatically-operated switch, said lever projecting,` exterior to said casing.

BENJAMIN PARKS RUCKER. lVitnesses:

HARRY T. STODDART, WILLIAM J. CooLnY. 

